Pre-season is officially over and the Premier League is back.
It has been a long summer with Euro 2024 taking place in Germany – we won’t talk about the result though.
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But the Premier League is here as Man City look to win a record-extending fifth straight title.
Pep Guardiola’s team have dominated in recent years, winning five of the last six, but there are challengers to be wary of.
Arsenal have run them close over the last two seasons and have strengthened with the signing of Riccardo Calafiori.
Read more on Premier League
Liverpool have quietly been impressing in pre-season under new manager Arne Slot, while Manchester United have also spent money.
As the Premier League is back, we’ve asked the talkSPORT pundits for their predictions ahead of the new season.
Who wins the title?
Jermaine Pennant – Arsenal
“I wouldn’t say it’s controversial, but I’m going with Arsenal and not Manchester City for a fifth time in a row.
“They’re ageing. Kevin De Bruyne is getting older each year and each season he will start reaching a cliff.
“There’s going to come a point in Kyle Walker’s career where he’s losing a bit of pace. It’s just genetics. It’s a thing. You can’t be 38, 39 and still be just as fast as you were when you were at your peak.
“I know that they’ve won a lot and they dominated, but now they’ve lost Alvarez. He is a big, big signing to lose.
“A lot of money by the way and it’s great business. But if Haaland was to get injured, there’s no [Julian] Alvarez.
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“They’d played without a striker. That’s when they had [Riyad] Mahrez. That’s when [Raheem] Sterling was on fire and [Jack] Grealish too. So they’re going to need big players to step up as well.”
Gabby Agbonlahor – Arsenal
“The reason why they are favourites is because last season they only finished two points behind.
“It might not have felt tight, but it was. Arsenal scored 91 goals, Man City got 96. Arsenal conceded less goals too.
“You look at those goals for and the talk about Arsenal needing a striker, fans will say no they don’t they spread the goals around.
“I do think a striker will help them.
“They aren’t conceding many goals either and Calafiori in there is going to add more stability to that already stable defence.
“Arsenal have every right to be favourites. Mikel Arteta will be saying this is our chance now.”
Simon Jordan – Manchester City
“I’ve gone for something very unconventional and put a lot of deep thought into it, and studied the form and looked at all the statistics, and made a difficult choice, and gone for Manchester City.”
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Jim White – Arsenal
“You see I’ve taken into account all these sort of off the wall methods that Mikel Arteta is using at Arsenal by whipping phones out of pockets, and things like that.
“Taking wallets out of pockets saying: ‘I want you to think more, be more alert about what you’re doing’.
“I’ve gone with Arsenal.”
Adrian Durham – Arsenal
“[The] Title is going to go to Arsenal. Surely they can’t blow it again and surely City can’t do it again.
“This year is Arteta’s year. He’s going to pick the pocket of Man City and come up with the title.”
Shebahn Aherne – Arsenal
“I think it’s going to be Arsenal’s season, I think Arsenal will win it.”
Graeme Souness – Arsenal
“I’ve got a sneaky feeling for Arsenal.
“De Bruyne- his influence will wane. He’s at that age now where he’s going to get muscle injuries, as fabulous as he’s been, that will wane.
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“The big centre-forward Haaland will get goals wherever he plays, he might get them out of the river time and time again.
“For me it’s between Arsenal and City.
“City won’t be far away. You know why? Because he’s [Pep Guardiola] got so many good players that he can rotate them, and he’s not shy in doing that.”
Jeff Stelling – Liverpool
“I’ve got Arsenal second, but I haven’t got the winners that you’d expect. I’ve gone for Liverpool.
“They had a bit of a wobble from mid-April last season, which cost them.
“People will make a great deal about they’ve made no signings. Well they haven’t made any signings so far. But equally, they haven’t had any significant losses.
“And for me, I look at Quansah- [he] will be better.
“Bradley will be better, Elliott will be better, Gakpo will be better, Curtis Jones will be better.”
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Ally McCoist – Arsenal
“I’m going for Arsenal.
“I think I’ve predicted Manchester City in the last three years, and the reason I’m doing it, I think there’s been progression in Arsenal in the last couple of years and I still think there’s progression in them.
“I think Arteta’s doing a great job, I really do. I think they were a great watch last year, I enjoyed them.
“I am not one of these guys who thinks it was failure because they finished second, far from it. I think that’s a very crass thing to say, I think they had a good season.
“The Villa game at home probably cost them at the end. But if you go on your last 18 games, I’ll tell you right now, if you offered Mikel Arteta 18 games to go- you won 16, draw one and lose one, he’d bite your hand off for it.
“I think we’re in for another fantastic season, and I think Arsenal might just pip City.”
Who makes the top four?
Jermaine Pennant
“Obviously Arsenal, because I’m saying they’re going to win it. I would say Man City, obviously because they’re going to be probably second.
“I would say Liverpool [in third place]. I’ll say how it was, I think Aston Villa [in fourth].”
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Adrian Durham
“In terms of top four, obviously Arsenal, Manchester City.
“I think Manchester United will get back in and I also think, and I don’t say this with much confidence, Tottenham will finish top three.
Shebahn Aherne
“Arsenal, Man City, I’m going to say Spurs and I think I’ll put Manchester United in there too.”
Jeff Stelling
“I’ve gone for Liverpool, Arsenal and City as the top three.
“And then as the fourth. Manchester United, for me they haven’t got enough depth and I know they’ll be signing players.
“But how many players can they sign and are they getting the quality of player required? I’m not so sure.
“I’d rule Chelsea right out. Spurs – if Solanke comes off, I think they’ve got a chance. Villa as well. If they can cope with [the] Champions League, I think they’ve recruited well.
“For me, Newcastle, a lot of injuries last season. I know a lot of clubs did, but this season if they stay relatively injury-free, they do not have Champions League to cope with.
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“This time they’ve tried to strengthen the back with Guehi. I’m gonna go Newcastle in fourth place.”
Emile Heskey
“I’ve gone the obvious – City [in first].
“[Followed by] Arsenal, Liverpool, and hear me out on this, Chelsea.”
“I put Chelsea in because of other reasons, and knowing them.
“Knowing how the manager works, and what he wants. I was intrigued with the players that he’s got.”
Ally McCoist
“I’ve changed my mind about six times already. But I’ve gone for Arsenal, City, Liverpool and Manchester United. Controversial!”
Wes Brown
“With deep regret really, I’ve gone Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool [as the top three].
“But I’ve put the boys in there, Man United as well.”
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Who gets relegated?
Adrian Durham
“Relegated teams – it’s easy to look at those that came up and think they’ll go down and I do think Southampton will go back down.
“I think that they will surprise a few in terms of how they play but I just don’t think they’ll be good enough to get the results that they need to stay up.
“Ipswich will go down as well. I think they’ve done so well but the gulf between League One and Premier League can’t be bridged in this short space of time.
“I’m going to go for a bold one for the third team to go down and it’s going to be Brentford.
“It probably depends on Ivan Toney. If he stays, they’ve got a chance. If he goes, I think that they will be in the bottom three.”
Shebahn Aherne
“I’m sorry Ipswich, I’m sorry Southampton. I’ll keep Leicester in there, but I think it might be a tough season for [Nottingham] Forest.”
Who wins the Golden Boot?
Adrian Durham
“Erling Haaland, I just don’t see anybody else.
“The player I’m most excited about seeing is Manchester United’s new striker, Joshua Zirkzee.
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“If you watched him for Bologna last season he’s very exciting, a little bit cocky but backs it up, superb technique. He can hold it up, bring others in.
Shebahn Aherne
“Even if he only plays half the season I think Erling Haaland still wins the Golden Boot.
“Maybe Rasmus Hojlund for Manchester United. I have a feeling he’s going to come good.”
Who has had the best transfer window?
Adrian Durham
“At the time of speaking, best window I’d say is probably West Ham United. They’ve bought well, signed players that will excite the fans.”
Shebahn Aherne
“I think West Ham have done decent business so far. They seem to have been busy and active in the transfer window.”
And who has had the worst?
Adrian Durham
“Worst window at the time of speaking has got to be Liverpool. What on earth is going on there?”
Shebahn Aherne
“It’s hard not to focus on Liverpool because absolutely nothing has happened so far.”
Keep up to date with all the latest news, rumours and gossip with our LIVE transfer blog
News Summary:
- Arsenal to finally win Premier League but don’t write off Man City and Liverpool and Rasmus Hojlund could rival Erling Haaland for Golden Boot
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.